Tunisia operates in two main languages: Tunisian Arabic (known locally as Derja) and French. Derja differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic — it borrows heavily from French, Italian, and Berber. In tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, French works reliably. In souks, rural towns, and casual conversation, a few Derja phrases will open doors that French alone cannot.
We have put together the most useful phrases for everyday situations. Pronunciations are approximate — Tunisian vowels shift between regions, so do not worry about perfection.
Greetings and Basics
| English | Tunisian Arabic (Derja) | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Aslema | ah-SLEH-ma |
| Hello (formal/Arabic) | Assalemu alaykum | as-sa-LAY-moo ah-LAY-kum |
| Goodbye | Bislema | bis-LEH-ma |
| Yes | Ih / Ey | ee / ay |
| No | Le | leh |
| Please | Yaishek | YAI-shek |
| Thank you | Yishek | YEE-shek |
| How are you? | Esh’noua? | esh-NWA |
| I’m fine | Lebes | leh-BESS |
| Excuse me | Samahni | sa-MAH-nee |
| I don’t understand | Ma fhemtesh | ma f-HEM-tesh |
| Do you speak French? | Tahki français? | TAH-kee fron-SAY |
| Do you speak English? | Tahki inglizi? | TAH-kee in-GLEE-zee |
Getting Around
| English | Tunisian Arabic (Derja) | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Where is…? | Win…? | ween |
| How much is the taxi? | B’qaddesh le taxi? | b-KAD-desh leh taxi |
| Train station | La gare | la GAR (French) |
| Bus station | Mahatta | ma-HAT-ta |
| Left | Lissar | lee-SAR |
| Right | Limin | lee-MEEN |
| Straight ahead | Tool | TOOL |
| Stop here, please | Okof hna, yaishek | OH-kof h-NA, YAI-shek |
| How far is it? | Qaddesh yob’od? | KAD-desh yo-BOAD |
Food and Dining
| English | Tunisian Arabic (Derja) | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Water | Ma | MA |
| Bread | Khobz | KHOBZ |
| Coffee | Qahwa | KAH-wa |
| Tea | Tey | TAY |
| The bill, please | L’addition, yaishek | la-dee-SYON, YAI-shek |
| Delicious | Bnin | b-NEEN |
| I am vegetarian | Ana nabati | AH-na na-BA-tee |
| No spicy, please | Bla harr, yaishek | bla HARR, YAI-shek |
| A table for two | Tabla le zouz | TAB-la leh ZOOZ |
Numbers
| Number | Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| 1 | Wahid | WAH-hid |
| 2 | Zouz | ZOOZ |
| 3 | Tletha | TLEH-tha |
| 4 | Arba | AR-ba |
| 5 | Khamsa | KHAM-sa |
| 6 | Sitta | SIT-ta |
| 7 | Seba | SEH-ba |
| 8 | Thmenia | th-MEN-ya |
| 9 | Tesaa | TES-ah |
| 10 | Ashra | ASH-ra |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Tunisian Arabic (Derja) | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Help! | Awnuni! | ow-NOO-nee |
| I need a doctor | Nheb tabib | n-HEB ta-BEEB |
| Police | Boulicia | boo-LEE-see-ya |
| Hospital | Sbitar | SBEE-tar |
| I am lost | Twahart | twa-HART |
| Call an ambulance | Otel ambulance | OH-tel am-bew-LONSS |
| It’s urgent | Hajja mostaaajla | HAJ-ja mos-TAAJ-la |
A few words of Derja — even imperfect — change how people interact with you in Tunisia. Shopkeepers relax, taxi drivers laugh, and conversations go from transactional to genuinely warm. Keep this list on your phone, practise the greetings first, and build from there. For more trip preparation, see our first time in Tunisia guide and our Tunisian food guide — knowing a few phrases at the table makes the dining experience considerably warmer. A Tunisia eSIM means you can keep this guide and offline maps accessible from the moment you land, without hunting for a local SIM card.
Plan Your Trip
✈️ Book your flights to Tunisia
🛡️ Get travel insurance
📱 Stay connected with an eSIM
🚗 Rent a car
